Oscar Nominees Award Dems Millions in Political Money

Politicians watching the Oscars this weekend of course will be seeing stars, just like the rest of us. But many of them — Democrats, at least — may see something much more alluring: dollar signs.

Celebrities have long been known for their left-leaning activism, and this year’s Academy Award nominees did nothing to break the mold. In fact, although the nominees and their families have shelled out more than $3.6 million in federal political contributions of more than $200 since 1990, almost nothing – just $4,000 from Steven Spielberg – landed in Republican coffers.

Unfortunately for some of this year’s nominees, politicians have no say when it comes to the Academy’s choices. If the White House had its way, for example, three films would walk away with top honors this weekend. “Lincoln” was a clear favorite for President Obama, who invited the cast and crew for a White House screening. Fortunately for him, the film’s nominees love him back, but nominees from his other favorite, “Silver Linings Playbook,” weren’t so giving. First Lady Michelle’s pick was “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” though its nominees made no political contributions.

Of the 51 actors, directors and producers nominated for the top six categories (Best Actor/Actress, Best Supporting Actor/Actress, Best Director and Best Picture), 25 nominees or their spouses have contributed to a political candidate or committee since 1990. Most supported Obama either in 2008 or 2012, or both. And in Congress, Oscar nominees tended to play favorites with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).

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“Lincoln” and “Argo“

All the nominees for the political films “Argo” and “Lincoln,” both of which are Best Picture nominees, also happen to be politically active in their personal lives. And as usual, Spielberg — nominated in the Best Director category for “Lincoln,” which he also produced — steals the show, even in money-and-politics.

Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw, have donated more than $2.7 million to politicians or outside spending groups since 1990. More than half of that was in the last election alone, in large part thanks to two checks — for $1 million and $100,000, respectively — they sent to Priorities USA Action, the pro-Obama super PAC that ran ads against Mitt Romney.

The only Republican contributions from the crowd of Oscar nominee-political donors — since 1990 — also came from Spielberg, but they’re practically ancient. He gave Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and Rudy Svorinich, a Republican on the Los Angeles City Council, $1,000 each in the 1998 election, and sent another $2,000 to Specter in 2004. He followed up with a $2,400 check to Specter after he switched parties to become a Democrat.

Spielberg’s co-producer Kathleen Kennedy helps make “Lincoln” this year’s money-and-politics blockbuster. Her contributions tally just under $337,000 since 1990. She, like Spielberg and several other nominees, took a particular interest in the 2012 elections. Kennedy spent about $52,000 trying to secure another victory for Obama – giving to his campaign, the DNC and several Democratic Party committees in key swing states. She also wrote checks of $2,500 to both McCaskill and Warren.

Sally Field has been politically active for as far as our records extend, contributing $26,600 to a number of Democratic candidates and committees since 1990. She was particularly generous in the 2008 election, maxing out to Hillary Clinton and giving $3,300 to Obama’s campaign committee, $3,000 to the DNC Services Corp, $1,000 to Voices for a Senate Majority (which was organized by women in Hollywood to benefit Democratic Senate challengers) and $400 to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. In the last round, though, she spent just $6,000 – $2,500 each to McCaskill and Warren and another $1,000 to the DCCC.

Filmmaker Rebecca Miller, wife of Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays Lincoln in the film and is a Best Actor nominee, contributed $300 to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) in the last election, but also sent $200 to Hillary Clinton‘s Senate run in 2006 and her presidential campaign in 2008. Tommy Lee Jones, who’s up for Best Supporting Actor in the same movie, wrote $2,000 checks to the presidential campaigns of both Al Gore and John Kerry, and sent another $8,000 to the DNC in 2004.

“Argo” also has its share of political donors, particularly its producers George Clooney and Ben Affleck. Clooney has long been a big Democratic supporter, contributing $132,700 so far. In the 2012 cycle alone, he gave $61,600 to the DNC and the maximum of $5,000 to Obama’s campaign.

Affleck and Jennifer Garner have spent $48,200 supporting Democrats in the last three presidential elections, and gave $3,000 to Gillibrand in 2010. They, too, focused much of their political largesse ($23,700) on the last election, each maxing out to Warren (for a total of $10,000). Garner also maxed out to Obama ($5,000).

In 2004, the third producer of “Argo,” Grant Heslov, gave $1,000 to Nick Clooney, George’s father, who ran against Rep. Geoff Davis (R-Ky.). In 2001, actor Alan Arkin, nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the film, gave $250 to Don Frank, a third-party candidate who lost to Rep. Chris Shays (R-Conn).

“Silver Linings Playbook“

All but two of the eight nominees from “Silver Linings Playbook” are big Democratic donors, though many of them held back in the last election– at least when it came to Obama’s campaign. There’s Robert DeNiro, nominated for Best Supporting Actor, who has contributed $69,500 to various candidates since 1991, but after supporting Obama and Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) in 2008, he handed out just $2,000 to Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) in the last election.

Then there’s Best Actor nominee Bradley Cooper, who gave Hillary Clinton $750 in 2008, and David O. Russell, who’s up for Best Director and who gave former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean $2,000 in the 2004 presidential primaries. Both recently visited Vice President Joe Biden in the White House. Producer Bruce Cohen has handed out $115,000 since 1994, but shied away from Obama in the last round, making no donations to his campaign, after maxing out to him in 2008. Cohen is a big Tammy Baldwin fan, though, and donated $5,000 to help her become the first openly gay senator. He also threw in another $2,500 to Gillibrand, $1,000 to the DCCC and to Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), and $500 to Cantwell.

Two other “Silver Linings” producers donated to Obama in 2008, but have maintained radio silence since then. Jonathan Gordon spent $2,000 and Donna Gigliotti gave Obama $250 that year; Gigliotti also gave $2,000 to Rep. Robert Mrazek (D-N.Y.) in 1990.

“Les Misérables“

Anne Hathaway, the odds-on favorite to win Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of the unfortunate Fantine (at least according to uber-prognosticator Nate Silver) is new to the political scene, but she dug deep for Obama in the last election, spending nearly $50,000 since June. Hathaway maxed out on contributions to Obama ($5,000), and then sent another $45,000 to the DNC and a slew of Democratic state committees.

Denzel Washington, who hopes to bring a Best Actor award home for his role in “Flight,” and his wife Pauletta are another celebrity team that put all its eggs in Obama’s basket. They have spent $155,000 since 2008 to support Obama and various Democratic Party committees.

Helen Hunt, whose performance in “The Sessions” earned her a Best Actress nomination, donated $4,600 to Obama in 2008 — but nothing in the 2012 election cycle.

Stacey Sher, producer of Best Picture nominee “Django Unchained,” has spent $4,799 on elections since 1994, including $1,000 to Obama in 2008. Her fellow producer Reginald Hudlin contributed $2,300 to Obama in 2008, but he didn’t open his wallet again for Obama’s re-election bid.

Nominated for his leading role in “The Master,” Joaquin Phoenix sent Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) $2,000 for his presidential run in 2004. His co-star and fellow nominee (though for Best Supporting Actor) Philip Seymour Hoffman has spent $9,400 from 2004 through 2008, mostly supporting Franken, the DNC and Minnesota political groups.

Producer Kathryn Bigelow of Best Picture nominee “Zero Dark Thirty” spent $550 in 2004 to support John Kerry’s presidential bid and the DNC.

Nominees from the films “Amour,” “Beasts of the Southern Wild” and “Life of Pi” — which round out the nine movies up for Best Picture — have not made political contributions.

Munchie Paradise

No, that’s not a movie, but it is something that many filmgoers look forward to when they buy their tickets — plunking down another few dollars (okay, often more!) for treats. And the purchases they make help support big Washington operations for the companies that produce the goodies.

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In the salty category, ConAgra Foods, for example — maker of best-selling Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn as well as other brands — spent $380,000 lobbying Congress, the Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies in Washington last year. The National Corn Growers Association, combined with several state affiliates, spent close to $900,000. The national growers group also contributed nearly $300,000 to political candidates and organizations in the 2012 election cycle, while ConAgra gave $218,000. ConAgra’s donations went overwhelmingly to Republicans.

An honorable mention should go to the independent Weaver Popcorn, based in Van Buren, Ind. The company spent virtually nothing on lobbying. But it helped balance out the overwhelmingly Democratic contributions of the movie stars, directors and producers by giving $2.4 million to Karl Rove’s very Republican super PAC, American Crossroads, for the 2012 elections.

When it comes to the sweet stuff and other snacks, Nestle SA (think Crunch, Baby Ruth, Butterfinger, Haagen Dazs etc.) clobbered its competitors in lobbying expenditures, shelling out nearly $3.8 million last year. But when it came to campaign contributions, Kraft Foods (Nutter Butter, Teddy Grahams, Toblerone, Fig Newtons…) grabbed the award with $356,000 in donations, split fairly evenly between the parties.

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